India Aviation show set to take off in Hyderabad from March 12

India, currently ranked as ninth largest aviation market, has potential to emerge third largest market after US and China by 2020

The fourth edition of India Aviation, an international exhibition and conference on civil aviation, will take off at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad on March 12, 2014, according to G Ashok Kumar, joint secretary, civil aviation.

Being organised by tnhe Union ministry of civil aviation under the aegis of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), the five-day event will see the participation of 250 exhibitors from 18 countries. It will have 18 aircraft on display, including Airbus A380, besides twice-a-day aerobatics performances by London-based Mark Jefferies Air Shows.

The conference will deliberate on promoting connectivity in Tier-II and Tier-III cities by supporting inward investment in low-cost airports, role of technology in developing world-class air navigation services (ANS), air traffic management infrastructure, challenges facing the sector like high taxation regime, exorbitant airport charges, with major thrust on tapping the potential to make India an MRO (maintenance, repair ad overhauling) hub, Kumar told mediapersons here on Monday.

"Around 400 aircraft are being operated now in India. Airlines are expected to add 1,000 more aircraft to their fleet by 2020. That opens up a huge opportunity for the MRO sector," he said.

While ANS requires investment of $7 billion in the next five years, and $5 billion for developing ground handling, cargo and logistic facilities at major airports in India, the MRO industry is expected to increase three-fold from Rs 2,500 crore in 2010 to Rs 7,000 by 2020.

Stating that India, which is currently ranked as the ninth largest aviation market, has the potential to emerge the third largest market after the US and China by 2020, Kumar said rapidly-expanding air transport network and opening up of the airport infrastructure to private sector participation was fuelling the growth of air traffic in the country.

According to International Air Transport Association, the Indian airport system is poised to handle 336 million domestic and 85 million international passengers by 2020, from the current level of 121 million domestic and 41 million international passengers, making India the third-largest aviation market.